Michael Walker, Big Foot
Dennis Semrau
Wissports.net
Michael Walker, Walworth Big Foot, senior
Sports: football, basketball, track and field
Michael Walker is proud to be a fan of Chicago sports from the Bears in football to the Cubs in baseball.
He is admittedly old school in his choice of Hall of Famer Walter Payton as his favorite all-time athlete and is well-known for his work ethic and versatility.
Yet, if you think that Walker had to specialize to become one of the state’s elite football players this year, guess again. He credits his success on the gridiron to his ability and desire to play multiple sports.
“My advice is to have fun. If you think you have to specialize to be good then you’re trying too much to succeed at one thing,” said Walker, who led Walworth Big Foot to the WIAA Division 4 state football championship.
Walker ended his prep football career with a school-record 412 points. As a senior, he scored a school-record 36 touchdowns, rushed for a school-record 1,890 yards and topped the 5,200 mark in all-purpose career yards, too.
He was a force on defense in the backfield and punted and returned kicks, too. He rarely left the field nor did he want to.
“If you go out to have fun, you’ll succeed anyway,” he said. “Just do your best and dedicate yourself to what you’re doing and you’re going to succeed.”
Walker capped his prep football career with the kind of game that players often can only dream about en route to setting a WIAA Division 4 state championship game record with five touchdowns. He ran for 255 yards and finished with 309 yards in total offense.
He earned Wisconsin Football Coaches Association first-team and Associated Press second-team all-state recognition at running back and defensive back as a senior. Walker was also a finalist for the Jim Leonhard Award as the most outstanding senior defensive back in Wisconsin, part of the First Annual WSN Senior Football Awards.
Big things were expected of Walker after he earned Rock Valley South Conference first-team honors at running back, defensive back and punter as a junior.
Walker delivered with gusto.
“That’s more than I could have dreamed,” Walker said of his season-ending performance at Camp Randall Stadium. “Our offensive line had its best game of the season and coach (Rodney) Wedig did a great job with our run schemes.”
Walker has moved on to basketball where he is a two-time letterwiinner and was a part-time starter as a junior before moving into the starting lineup full-time at point guard as a senior.
Then it will be off to track and field, where Walker is hoping to finish as a four-time letterwinner and qualify for state for the second straight season as a sprinter.
Named the track team’s “Most Improved Performer” as a junior, when he anchored the Chiefs’ state-qualifying 400 relay, he will serve as a co-captain as a senior.
“I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t in sports year round,” Walker said. “It definitely teaches leadership qualities and dedication.”
Walker credits his parents, Kenneth and Laurie Walker, for encouraging him to compete in multiple sports.
“My dad always coached my basketball and baseball teams while I was growing up,” he said. “My mom was always my No. 1 fan. My parents made sure I got where I needed to go. They were at every single one of my games. They never missed one.”
Walker said being involved in more than one sport had a positive impact on whatever he opted to do.
“It helps you be more versatile in the sport you’re in,” he said. “In football I can use my track speed to get around people. In basketball, I like to jump over people and you jump all the time. They all complement each other.”
Walker said his desire to play multiple sports in high school is shared by his peers.
“Our starting five in basketball all played football and four were starters. Most of us compete in track or baseball in the spring as well. Most of the kids are three-sport athletes,” he said.
Walker would like to play football in college, where he is planning to study athletic training.
“I like the fact you get to travel with the team and make the trips to the games and just be around the sports atmosphere,” he said of his career choice. “That’s what I want to stay around.”
Time out with Michael Walker
1 – I like about high school sports: the relationships you build with friends and the memories you create with them and also the life lessons you learn.
2 – Role models: my parents, Kenneth and Laurie Walker.
3 -- My family includes: my brother, Kenneth, and sister, Vanessa.
4 – One word to describe me: humble
5 – Favorite athlete: LeBron James
6 -- Favorite movie: Never Back Down.
7 – Favorite food: cereal
8 – Favorite opponent: Brodhead
9 -- Dream date: Megan Fox
10 – Words to live by: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
